USTA and UCF’s Rosen College Announce Educational Partnership for Professional Tennis Management

Starting in Fall 2016, students at the University of Central Florida will be able to study Professional Tennis Management (PTM) thanks to a new educational partnership between the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. This specialization will be housed under the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree program and include instruction at both Rosen College and the USTA National Campus in Orlando, the New Home of American Tennis. Students will benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities, internship opportunities and world-class hospitality management training.

"It is essential to provide professional development opportunities for students pursuing a career in the tennis industry," said Scott Schultz, USTA managing director. "We are proud to partner with UCF to ensure the development of the next generation of tennis industry leaders in the sport."

Rosen College students who select the track will receive a strong academic foundation in hospitality management education and complete three paid internships in the tennis industry. USTA will provide specialized training in the sport synchronized with their internship experiences. Graduates will be well equipped for fulfilling careers as tennis teaching professionals, club managers, directors of tennis or other business roles associated with the industry.

Dr. Jill Fjelstul has been named director of hospitality in sports and will oversee the PTM track. She previously developed Rosen College's golf and club management curriculum and designed the first online education courses for the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Division. She is also a former professional golfer and coach.

"Rosen College's reputation for top-notch hospitality management education combined with USTA's leadership in the sport will produce outstanding graduates ready to lead the tennis industry into the future," said Fjelstul. "Our students will gain all the skills necessary for success and will benefit from access to the country's leading tennis organization right in our backyard."

The USTA's new complex in Lake Nona is located on 63 acres and will feature more than 100 tennis courts, a tennis pro shop, fitness area, locker rooms, player lounge, cafeteria and offices. The target completion date is the fourth quarter of 2016. The site will house a collegiate tennis center capable of hosting a number of college events and will serve as the home for the University of Central Florida's men's and women's varsity teams.

For more information about Rosen College's Professional Tennis Management Track, visit hospitality.ucf.edu/tennis or contact Fjelstul at 407-903-8096 or [email protected].

About the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, provides students with an unrivaled opportunity to learn and work in the heart of hospitality. Ranked in the top three hospitality management programs worldwide and the largest in the United States, Rosen College has been an educational leader for over 30 years. Uniquely positioned in America's top tourism destination, we educate the next generation of industry leaders through internationally-recognized faculty, innovative academic programs, cutting-edge research and strong industry and community partnerships. To learn more, visit hospitality.ucf.edu.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level – from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 720,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, "like" the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.

Susan Vernon-Devlin
Assistant Director of Public Relations
UCF